US approves sale of 3 HIMARS systems to Ukraine, Canada "fires" another 76 million USD to support Kiev's air defense system

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on May 10 that the US State Department has approved the potential sale of three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine for $30 million.

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of three HIMARS multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine for $30 million. (Source: EDF)

The DSCA, the agency that equips foreign security forces, confirmed in a statement: "The Department of State has made an emergency foreign military sale approval for the provision of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related logistics and program support to the Government of Ukraine for an estimated cost of $30 million."

Previously, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on May 9 that Western allies will provide Ukraine with three more HIMARS systems to help the Eastern European country deal with Russia's military campaign.

* Meanwhile, on May 10, Canada and Germany announced that Canada will contribute $76 million to a German-led initiative to raise funds for an air defense system that will be sent to Ukraine.

Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius signed a letter of intent to contribute to Germany's Prompt Action initiative on air defence after a joint meeting in Ottawa.

The initiative will mobilize money and resources from international partners to rapidly source and deliver air defense systems to the Ukrainian battlefield.

According to Mr Blair, this investment will help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Mr Blair's office confirmed that the above money was taken from the $ 1.6 billion military aid to Ukraine over 5 years announced in the most recent federal budget.

Canada committed $406 million to buy the NASA Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and missiles from the United States more than a year ago, but production delays have hampered the delivery of the system.

This has forced Canada to turn to initiatives like Germany's and a similar British-led initiative, to which Ottawa contributed about $33 million last September.

Similar delays in artillery production have forced Canada to partner with the Czech Republic to buy ammunition from European warehouses so it can be quickly shipped to Ukraine, at a cost of $53 million.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/my-chap-thuan-ban-3-he-thong-himars-cho-ukraine-canada-ban-them-76-trieu-usd-ung-ho-he-thong-phong-khong-cua-kiev-270919.html